This study is about rehabilitation of arm function after a stroke. The investigators are testing the dosage of therapy that is needed for meaningful recovery of arm and hand function. Dosage of therapy refers to the amount of time (in this case, the total number of hours) that a person participates in treatment. The investigators hope to learn how much therapy time is needed in order for change to occur in arm and hand function after a person has had a stroke. Eligible candidates must have had a stroke affecting the use of an arm or hand at least 6 months ago.

BART is a laboratory-based timed-reaching task for people with stroke that was developed to evaluate upper extremity use in free-choice and forced-use scenarios. BART will be performed two times per month for the four months following randomization, and one time a month for 6 months during the follow-up period to assess changes in upper extremity use relative to dosage of therapy.

Semi-structured interview in which participants are asked to rate the quality of movement (QOM) of their more affected arm for 28 activities of daily living. MAL is used to assess changes in participant perspective of arm use in daily life relative to dose of physical therapy.

BART is a laboratory-based timed-reaching task for people with stroke that was developed to evaluate upper extremity use in free-choice and forced-use scenarios. BART will be performed 2 times at Baseline, pre- and post- intervention and 1 time a month for 6 months during follow-up to assess changes in upper extremity use relative to dosage of therapy.

Semi-structured interview in which participants are asked to rate the quality of movement (QOM) of their more affected arm for 28 activities of daily living. MAL is used to assess changes in participant perspective of arm use in daily life relative to dose of physical therapy.

A self-report measure to assess the ways in which an individual's health and life are impacted after a stroke. SIS will be used to assess changes in participant self-report of the impact of the stroke on health and life relative to dosage of physical therapy.

A self-report measure to assess the ways in which an individual's health and life are impacted after a stroke. SIS will be used to assess changes in participant self-report of the impact of the stroke on health and life relative to dosage of physical therapy.

Sixty total hours of ASAP therapy--challenging, intensive and meaningful practice of tasks of your choice in a collaborative partnership with your personal trainer (therapist).

Behavioral: Accelerated Skill Acquisition Program (ASAP)

A focused, intense, evidence-based, upper extremity rehabilitation program. The training intervention is based on the fundamental elements of skill acquisition through task-specific practice, impairment mitigation to increase capacity, and motivational enhancements to build self-confidence Dosage of therapy (number of hours of therapy) will vary based on group assignment. Frequency is 4x/week, 1 week per month for 3 months in a train-wait-train paradigm. A 2-hour orientation session precedes the first visit.

Experimental: Moderate Therapy Dose

Thirty total hours of ASAP therapy--challenging, intensive and meaningful practice of tasks of your choice in a collaborative partnership with your personal trainer (therapist).

Behavioral: Accelerated Skill Acquisition Program (ASAP)

A focused, intense, evidence-based, upper extremity rehabilitation program. The training intervention is based on the fundamental elements of skill acquisition through task-specific practice, impairment mitigation to increase capacity, and motivational enhancements to build self-confidence Dosage of therapy (number of hours of therapy) will vary based on group assignment. Frequency is 4x/week, 1 week per month for 3 months in a train-wait-train paradigm. A 2-hour orientation session precedes the first visit.

Experimental: Low Therapy Dose

Fifteen total hours of ASAP therapy--challenging, intensive and meaningful practice of tasks of your choice in a collaborative partnership with your personal trainer (therapist).

Behavioral: Accelerated Skill Acquisition Program (ASAP)

A focused, intense, evidence-based, upper extremity rehabilitation program. The training intervention is based on the fundamental elements of skill acquisition through task-specific practice, impairment mitigation to increase capacity, and motivational enhancements to build self-confidence Dosage of therapy (number of hours of therapy) will vary based on group assignment. Frequency is 4x/week, 1 week per month for 3 months in a train-wait-train paradigm. A 2-hour orientation session precedes the first visit.

Active Monitoring

This is an observation only group.

Behavioral: Active Monitoring

This is an observation-only group. Any therapy received while in this group will be dosed according to usual and customary practice.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

21 Years and older

Genders Eligible for Study:

Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion criteria:

Ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke that occured at least 6 months ago.

At least 21 years of age

Persistent arm and hand weakness, with some ability to release a grasp

Able to provide consent to participate

No history of a medical condition that limited arm or hand use prior to the stroke

Medically stable

Able to participate for 10 months and attend evaluations at the University of Southern California (USC) Health Sciences Campus.

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01749358